Southern States - Andhra Pradesh   

TTD board meet likely to discuss ropeway project

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUPATI July 16. The Rs.110- crore Tirumala ropeway project, precariously hanging in the balance after the TTD management rejected the proposal outright, is likely to be taken up again for discussion at its meet, scheduled for July 19 and 20.

The ropeway is part of the prestigious venture envisaged by the AP Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) to develop `Tirupati visitors zone' (TVZ) at the foot of the Tirumala hills to decongest downhill Tirupati by restricting the pilgrim inflow to a specific area. Though the zone consists of a multiplex theatre, food courts, shopping malls, an ISKCON spiritual museum etc., the ropeway is meant to be the major attraction.

The site for the project has already been identified, the aerial route mapped, the contract awarded and it was when the work was expected to begin that the TTD board resolved to stall the project, terming it against `Agama shastras'. A section of the board was learnt to be vociferous in its argument, citing scriptures that none should be allowed to hover above the Seshachalam hill ranges as it is the sacred abode of the Lord of the seven hills. They reminded that even helicopters were not being allowed to fly above Tirumala for this very reason. Also, such projects could reduce Tirumala to a mere tourist destination, they feared.

It was learnt that at the behest of the Tourism department, the CMO too had tried its best to prevail upon the board not to throw a spanner in the work which had already secured the nod of the then TTD's Specified Authority (the supreme policy-making body in the absence of a board) way back in 2000. It was against this backdrop that the board is expected to take up an elaborate discussion on the issue, keeping in mind both the `shastras' and the huge tourism potential.

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